Met Office urges UK households to stock up on seven items before 33-hour snow storm

UK households have been urged to consider buying seven items before a 33-hour snow storm on Saturday and Sunday. The Met Office has issued an amber alert for UK households as we head into the weekend, with warnings from 00:00am on Saturday to 09:00am on Sunday.

"You could be without food, heat or light if you are cut off by snow and can't access services and amenities for a number of days. Act now and be prepared, by getting the essentials together that you could need," the Met Office warned.

It urged households to stock up on torches and batteries, candles and matches or lighters, as well as plenty of blankets and warm clothing. It warned: "Heavy snow will spread northeastwards on Saturday morning, giving significant accumulations in many areas. Accumulations of 10-20 cm are likely on ground typically above 200m, with potentially as much as 20-40 cm on hills above 400m.

READ MORE All the nine parts of UK facing 15 inches of snow on Saturday

"Snow will eventually revert to rain during Saturday afternoon, but may be preceded by a short spell of freezing rain in places adding to the ice risk. Strengthening winds will lead to drifting of lying snow, with difficult travelling conditions likely on higher level routes, and the risk of interruptions to power supplies.

"A fairly rapid thaw of lying snow is then likely on Saturday night as milder air moves in." It comes on the day the Met Office issued an update over what December's weather has in store for us, explaining: "Probably a quieter interlude to start this period for much of the UK as high pressure builds across the north with a return of night frosts.

"However there is still a risk of some rain across southern parts of the country on Wednesday, although the northern extent of this is uncertain. The high is likely to migrate eastwards during the second half of next week, potentially allowing some outbreaks of rain to move into some some northwestern areas along with some stronger winds.

"Into December, and while signals are mixed it looks most likely that high pressure may re-assert itself close to or over the UK, with temperatures generally near average, but some overnight frost is likely, and rather cold by day where any fog persists."